18 U.S.C. § 3144
Release or detention of a material witness
United States · Title 18 — CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · Status: effective
Cite this
- Citation
- 18 U.S.C. § 3144, Release or detention of a material witness, United States, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/449769
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Full text
If it appears from an affidavit filed by a party that the testimony of a person is material in a criminal proceeding, and if it is shown that it may become impracticable to secure the presence of the person by subpoena, a judicial officer may order the arrest of the person and treat the person in accordance with the provisions of section 3142 of this title. No material witness may be detained because of inability to comply with any condition of release if the testimony of such witness can adequately be secured by deposition, and if further detention is not necessary to prevent a failure of justice. Release of a material witness may be delayed for a reasonable period of time until the deposition of the witness can be taken pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Legislative history
The public laws that enacted or amended this section. Tallies are for the whole bill as it passed each chamber — often an omnibus covering far more than this provision — not a vote on this section alone.
- A joint resolution making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1985, and for other purposes.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Criminal Law and Procedure Technical Amendments Act of 1986House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally